AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PROGRESSIVE PARTY ACTIVE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Oct. 19. The Progressing Party is contesting seats in all the electorates at the next election. Previously it kept outside the city constituencies. BANK AMALGAMATION. Melbourne, Oct. 19. It is officially announced that the National Bank of Australasia and .the Bank of Queensland have amalgamated. PANEL ENVELOPES BARBED. Melbourne, Oct. 19. The post office has issued a new regulation, following on the regulation carried by the Madrid Conference that envelopes with an open panel space or a transparent space in front, to enable the address on the enclosure to ba seen, will not- A be received for dispatch after January 1, 1922. The objection is that the panels interfere with the obliterating machines. LABOR MINISTER’S ACTION. Sydney, Oct. 19. It is reported that Mr. MeGirr intercepted the order of the Board of Trade that the reduced basic wage should be gazetted, thus nullifiying the finding. It is suggested that Judge Beefoy may resign.

Replying to a deputation Mr. MeGirr disagreed with Judge Beeby’s decision not to extend the 44-hour week throughout the railway service. He stated that he was referring the matter back to the Court, and, if unsuccessful, he would prevail on the Cabinet to apply the shorter week throughout the railways. FAVORABLE WHEAT CROP. Sydney, Oct. 19. ■Last season’s wheat crop exceeded the official returns by 2J million bushels, the harvest totalling 56 milion bushels. The surplus means an extra million sterling for the farmers. ANOTHER MUNICIPAL BRAWL. Sydney, Oct. 19. There have been acrimonious discussions at the City Council meetings for some time, which culminated last night in Aiderman Holdsworth (Labor) assaulting Aiderman R. D. Meagher, both being knocked to the floor. There were no serious consequences, though the* same two gentlemen were prevented again from fighting later in the evening. DUTY ON NEWSPRINT. Sydney, Oct. 19. The Country Press Association adopt- i ed a resolution approving of the Com- i mon wealth £2 preferential duty on Bri- ' tish-made paper and expressed the hope; that the. preference would not be ren- | dered nugatory by any concession to Canada until exhaustive inquiry had been made into the methods of the American and Canadian combine in dealing with the Australian consumers during and since the war. CONTROLLING SYDNEY TRAFFIC. Sydney, Oct. 18. The police- claim that the new pedestrian rule, “keep to the left,l’ is already bearing fruit, and there has been a perceptible decrease in the number of street accidents.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LABOR ’PROBLEMS. Sydney, Oct. 18. A round-table conference between the Employers’ Association and the Labor Council has been arranged for Friday to discuss the unemployment question. One of the results which it is hoped to achieve is the appointment of a permanent council representative generally of employers and employees, to decide on a common basis for dealing with unemployment matters arising out of the 44-hour week and the reduction of the basic wage. The Government’s procrastination -in dealing with the basic reduction is causing much comment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NATIONAL PARTY’S PLATFORM. Sydney, Oct. 18. At the annual conference of the National Party Mr. Fuller'' outlined the platform, which includes reduction of taxation, decontrol of industry, a comprehensive immii gration policy, and a vigorous policy of | decentralisation by means of cross-country i railways and hydro-electric schemes. It I is also proposed to reduce the cost of government, beginning with Parliament. THE 44-HOUR WEEK. Sydney, Oct. 18. • The annual report presented at the Country Press Association conference Spates that the 44-hour week award had a more injurious effect, and iipposed greater hardship on country newspapers than any previous- industrial decision.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.